May 2020 Hatch-A-Long

[chickiebaby1]

I probably will peek on day 7... I don't think I can hold out longer anyways

What kind of marans?

These are black copper and blue

I actually took a peek on day 3 for a few and could actually see some light veining already! Can't wait to candle on day 7 this weekend!

 

[FortCluck]

I'm so sorry! It must have cut off circulation when it was injured.

I wanted to tell them they need to cull it because it was 2 days before anything was done, but I traded it for another chick like a business should do on good faith. It's now 4 days after injury, there's no way this tendon is going to go back, it just slips out even when wrapped The rough times come in waves

 

[BertyRoux]

It's honestly part of the job of hatching... That's why I don't think people who won't cull a faulty chick should hatch... If a chick is suffering, you need to end it's suffering, it's not right to continue it on for longer than it needs just for your own selfish reasons.

They just asked about the chick so I sent a nice little email not detailing too much but focusing them on other chicks not the one that's suffering because it wasn't helped soon enough. Accidents happen, not everyone has an animal background like I do. I interned at a veterinary office for 3 years, he did mostly farm animals. I got to castrate bulls, pigs, and helped with surgeries. Very fun experience.

I have learned so much creating my own farm. It's been lots of tears and laughter.

I agree! And good on you for being kind to them about it. Horses are the foremost hobby of my lifetime, and it's always hard to watch people learning what they don't know (and perhaps should have learnt first). It's often an expensive lesson with larger farm animals, too. I don't think I would ever have the patience to deal with owners as vets do - although my large animal vet is pretty no-nonsense, he tells it like it is (and some people dislike him for it).

At least you were able to give the poorly one a proper end. More sweet babies are on the way!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I probably will peek on day 7... I don't think I can hold out longer anyways

What kind of marans?

These are black copper and blue

Our home bred black copper marans. They are pretty dark but not super dark. We bought BCM eggs to hatch last year, and some of those were so dark I could barely see a thing!

 

[Pretty Birds]

The humidity is going to spike when they start externally pipping. I would go no higher than 60% because you do not want condensation in your incubator. When chicks start externally pipping and hatching they create their own humidity in the incubator, so if yours is too high it is going to create condensation.

Okay, thank you. This might be a dumb question, but what is bad about condensation? Is it a sign that the humidity is too high?

 

[FortCluck]

I agree! And good on you for being kind to them about it. Horses are the foremost hobby of my lifetime, and it's always hard to watch people learning what they don't know (and perhaps should have learnt first). It's often an expensive lesson with larger farm animals, too. I don't think I would ever have the patience to deal with owners as vets do - although my large animal vet is pretty no-nonsense, he tells it like it is (and some people dislike him for it).

At least you were able to give the poorly one a proper end. More sweet babies are on the way!

The vet that I used to intern for was the same way with his clients. He never sugar coated anything and told you like it was, if you didn't like it you could take your money elsewhere and he didn't care. He was in it for the animals and nothing more.

I'm like him usually, but I try to reign that side of me in when it comes to people who are new to chickens. I was once new to them too and I remember a rooster dying on my lap and I cried for a long time outside holding it. I have come a long way since then.

 

[FortCluck]

Okay, thank you. This might be a dumb question, but what is bad about condensation? Is it a sign that the humidity is too high?

The humidity is too high when condensation occurs. It causes issues hatching like; drowning the chicks, chicks do not absorb the yolk, and can cause dead in shell chicks.

 

[FortCluck]

Our home bred black copper marans. They are pretty dark but not super dark. We bought BCM eggs to hatch last year, and some of those were so dark I could barely see a thing!

This is what the eggs look like

 

[FortCluck]

I agree! And good on you for being kind to them about it. Horses are the foremost hobby of my lifetime, and it's always hard to watch people learning what they don't know (and perhaps should have learnt first). It's often an expensive lesson with larger farm animals, too. I don't think I would ever have the patience to deal with owners as vets do - although my large animal vet is pretty no-nonsense, he tells it like it is (and some people dislike him for it).

At least you were able to give the poorly one a proper end. More sweet babies are on the way!

I wanted miniature horses or miniature donkey until I realized that there's a lot of work in them. I would love to learn how to do their hooves myself because I'm sure I would be able to handle it, but I honestly don't know if in the future we will have the space for them. If I get enough land I so would get a donkey I love them.

 

[FortCluck]

I actually took a peek on day 3 for a few and could actually see some light veining already! Can't wait to candle on day 7 this weekend!

I usually try not to candle any of my eggs until day 7. Sometimes I'm not successful at it.